I have a reccurring nightmare where I am frantically trying to lock the kitchen door at the house where I grew up, while an unknown, sinister presence is fast approaching. I fumble with the latch, opening and closing the door, and I am beside myself that I just can’t get it to lock! My heart is pounding with fear as I realize the presence is drawing closer and closer through the outside darkness. This dream has been haunting me for decades. This is how it began:
It was the summer of my seventeenth year when it started–we were being “peeped”! We were a household of four, cute sisters, as well as an attractive mother which, I’m sure, added to the appeal of being targeted.
One of my sisters had a couple of friends visiting one evening and they were all in the bedroom yakking and giggling when my sister spied a man’s face peering in at them through the open window. Screams ensued, the man ran off and we tried to forget it.
But some weeks later, while I was reading in my parents’ bedroom one night (they were not home); I heard footsteps slowly approaching the window. A brother and his friend were out in the living room, so I went to them and whispered urgently that someone was prowling around outside! They stealthily crept out the front door and around the side of the house and surprised a guy that they then chased across the neighbor’s backyard and tackled to the ground. He was dressed only in bra and panties! After my brother threatened him with “stay away from our house or else”, he sent him packing and he never showed up again.
But it was the next incident that scared us the worst. After falling asleep one night on our enclosed porch with one of our Siamese cats snuggled in next to me, I was awakened abruptly to find my cat leaning over my head, peering intently through the darkened window, growling quietly under his breath. I froze with fear when I heard the now-too-familiar sound of foot falls, and then, with my heart pounding in my ears, heard the door knob being jiggled back and forth inches from my head! Someone was trying to get in! (Thank God the door was locked. It was rare that our doors were ever locked in those days). After a few suspenseful minutes where I couldn’t bring myself to move, the bathroom light suddenly came on. I leapt out of bed and ran to the bathroom where my mother had gotten up to go–and breathlessly told her what had happened. That same moment, one of my sisters came home and I anxiously recounted what had just occurred. It was there, where we were gathered talking, that we noticed the outline of large, dirty shoe prints on the living room carpet! We tracked them through the dining room and on into the kitchen to find the kitchen door wide open to the outside! He had actually come into the house within feet of where I had just been laying!
This episode began a series of events that started with someone providing my brother with a shotgun for our protection! Our father was mostly an absentee one so my brother took matters into his own hands.
One evening he decided to lie in wait in the dark shadows of the backyard and see if our intruder would show up. His ammunition was rock salt so it really wouldn’t do much bodily harm if he did manage to hit him. Well, lo and behold, after a short wait, here came our guy! My brother took careful aim from his hiding place in the shrubs and fired–hitting the backdoor! The guy took flight with my brother in hot pursuit. They ran down the street and around the corner where my brother again took aim and this time hit his target square in the buttocks! At this point, our intruder really became frantic and sought sanctuary with one of our close neighbors, screaming that there was a madman after him trying to kill him! When my brother caught up to them and set the story straight, the neighbor and he detained the guy until the police arrived. This man turned out to be a different prowler than the previous underwear clad “peeper”. I don’t remember if he was ever identified as the one who had earlier entered our home.
We had no further incidents after that and no charges were filed against my brother.
But the nightmare remains for me.
diabolik181
/ September 27, 2010That is a terrifying memory and your description really brings it home. An unknown man’s face in the window… what a chilling image. I have recurring nightmares too, though their stories have progresses since I learned the trick to ask simple, direct questions to the occupants of the dreams. I’ve found that asking things like “Who are you?” or “What do you want?” and listening to the answer can lead to a resolution, or at least new and different problems.
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Bodhirose
/ September 27, 2010I think that’s a good suggestion, Diabolik, I have heard other people using that tactic too. Since my mother still lives in the same house, I thought that if I went to that door and could see that I could lock it one day, perhaps that would let my unconscious mind know that I was now safe. It seems to have helped.
Thanks so much for your support.
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Jingle
/ September 27, 2010beautiful piece.
hope it passes,
everyone has nightmare at times.
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Bodhirose
/ September 27, 2010Thank you, Jingle. The nightmare doesn’t come too frequently–seems to be lessening.
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Jingle
/ September 27, 2010http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/2010/09/monday-poetry-potluck-kings-queens-and.html
Hello, friend:
Our Monday Poetry Potluck Is NOW open, linking is open from Sunday 8pm to Tuesday, 8pm, welcome join us by linking in 1 to 3 poems, you could use an old poem, the more you share, the happier we are…hurry up!
Thanks in advance.
Hope to see you soon…
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Jingle
/ September 27, 2010an award for you.
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Jingle
/ September 28, 2010awards for you.
support us by linking in 1 to 3 poems to our poetry potluck…
not necessarily related to the theme, any old poems would work.
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soulbro*
/ September 28, 2010That is sure a terrifying story Bodhi…I am glad you shared with us…hope this leaves your Awareness someday soon…
I remember when I was living all by myself in an very nice apartment complex before I was married and was dreaming nad felt the presence of a dark figure hovering near the headboard of my bed…I awoken in a cold sweat and thought to myself who or what could that be?…Death?…an intruder?..Ninja?….who or what?…I went in the kitchen for a glass of water and noticed my door opened a tad bit with my keys in it…hmmmmm?….something from a shadow was warning me about this as I must have been so tired that night I forgot to take the keys out of the lock and it was ina secure vestibule so the wind must have opened the door where I only shut it lightly…my sister and mom had the same apparition as well….(+) 🙂
soulbro*xo—-{–@
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Trisha
/ September 30, 2010i think it might have been a thief or just as you said, your subconscious which remembered that you did not took out the key was warning you.
i dont believe much in ghosts (physical manifestation of them) but i believe that human brain is very powerful. 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ September 28, 2010Very interesting story, Dom. As we already discussed it tonight on the phone, I won’t go into it again. But I am fascinated by your experience. Thank you for sharing with me.
Love you…
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Trisha
/ September 30, 2010good that the cat was sleeping with you. thank God. It must have been an terrifying experience, no doubt they have become a permanent resident of your subconscious.
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Bodhirose
/ September 30, 2010Yes, it was my cat that alerted me to something going on outside–it sure was scary. My “nightmare” does seem to be lessening though.
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Trisha
/ October 1, 2010exactly. otherwise you would have been sleeping while that deranged maniac skulked outside.
its good to sleep with pets in room 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ October 1, 2010Pets can be very comforting and also it’s a good idea to keep doors and windows locked!
Sita alerted Tom and I to our air conditioner “screeching” one night. She woke us up and then we realized something was wrong with it. I don’t think she could stand the racket! 🙂
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Trisha
/ October 2, 2010they can warn us against lot of things. like inhalers/incense sticks which are bad for our lungs.
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Bodhirose
/ October 2, 2010There have been many stories written about the heroic actions of our animal friends–so many people have been saved by them.
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Trisha
/ October 4, 2010even your kitten did it, not by fighting away the villain but certainly by warning you of his presence.
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Bodhirose
/ October 4, 2010I’ve always loved my cats–I’m glad that he repaid that love!
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trisha
/ October 8, 2010they always do. if not physically then emotionally. you feel less lonely, less unloved- their unconditional love helps you to heal deepest wounds.
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Bodhirose
/ October 8, 2010I couldn’t agree more. I think you were sent all those lovely kitties for those very reasons. And I have Sita for the same. They are wonderful treasures!
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Trisha
/ October 9, 2010Well the way they all showed up out of thin air i believe God had some role to play in it. 🙂
unconditional love is greatest gift for any human being.
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Bodhirose
/ October 9, 2010I think so too. You can’t help but feel happy watching kittens play and Mom taking such good care of them. As for Pixie, well…
Well, I think he may be going through some “issues”! 🙂
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trisha
/ October 10, 2010hmm, all of a sudden to tiny, playful kittens occupied his solitary domain. trailing him like shadow. eyeing every thing he eats, every place he loves to sleep in etc etc
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Bodhirose
/ October 10, 2010Mostly I think Pixie is having trouble dealing with the extra “kitty” energy around him like you said. It would drive me crazy too if I had someone stalking my every move–pouncing on me when I want to rest in peace… 😦
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trisha
/ October 13, 2010oh yes, as they are growing bigger they are not scared of pixie anymore, so poor pixie is almost always the target of their pranks. now, he has every right to get rattled nerves once in a while.
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Bodhirose
/ October 13, 2010Bless his sweet little heart! I really feel kind of sorry for Pixie–he’s outnumbered. 🙂
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trisha
/ October 14, 2010poor sweet baby, but he is naughtiest one too. 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ October 14, 2010He can’t seem to help himself! He needs to try harder. 🙂
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Trisha
/ October 15, 2010well, i believe soon he will grow older and calmer. he also is a baby right now. yet to be one year old.
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Bodhirose
/ October 15, 2010We can’t expect too many mature behaviors from Pixie–like you said, he is still very young himself.
Little sweet pea… 🙂
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Tamasin McGregor
/ October 5, 2010ooh, this must have been so frightening, the sort of event that can traumatise you for life! I think when we have nightmares it is a little nudge from our deep subconscious that there are stored issues and events that we have brushed under the proverbial carpet or stored safely never to be looked at…
Dom’s story reminds me of the time my friend was woken up by her wind chimes in her kitchen tinkling…she got up to investigate and discovered her back door unlocked. There was no breeze, so she was never sure what made them chime on their own. x
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Bodhirose
/ October 5, 2010Very frightening, Tamasin. When you’re young like that, these things can really bring an unsettled feeling that seems to cling on and on. I don’t really like the idea of brushing these feelings under the rug to try and forget them–I would rather deal with them and have them GONE!
Maybe your friend had a “visitor” that brushed into the chimes before he/she left… Gave me a chill up my spine!
I appreciate your comments, Tamasin. xoxo
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Jessica
/ October 5, 2010Wow! That’s crazy! But I must say, your writing is BEAUTIFUL! you are so articulate! I was there experiencing every moment! Keep writing Gayle! Have a fabulous day!
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Bodhirose
/ October 6, 2010Thank you, Jessica–I really appreciate your input. Yeah, it was crazy!
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Jamie Dedes
/ October 5, 2010What a horror story. I’m so sorry this happened to you. God bless your brother. Took his responsibilities seriously, didn’t he … and so young apparently. Holding you in my heart and prayers that this will pass. Maybe it helped to write it out. Cathartic?
Blessings …
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Bodhirose
/ October 6, 2010Yeah, it was creepy–and thank God for our brave brother. It really shook him up to do what he did to protect us all. Thanks for your kind and generous thoughts for my well-being, Jamie. I think writing about it was healing.
How nice of you to stop by and read my blog today. 🙂
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trisha
/ October 6, 2010it was dangerous for him too. the guy sounds crazy. such people can do any thing. your brother’s courage is outstanding for sure.
you must have guessed that i am answering the comments on mycybernovels a little less, i can find you here so my first preference will be meeting you here, so dont worry if my answers there pop up every alternate day 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ October 6, 2010Yes, that guy was crazy alright–but the one holding the shotgun wins!
I am happy to meet you wherever you would like. I won’t worry that we aren’t over there everyday. 🙂 (((Hugs)))
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trisha
/ October 11, 2010thanks. i am a bit busy writing these days. 🙂
blogging is sure addictive.
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Bodhirose
/ October 11, 2010I understand completely. 🙂
I’ve gotten more busy blogging lately too, thanks to you!
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trisha
/ October 19, 2010I am completely addicted to it these days. 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ October 19, 2010Me too!
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2zpoint
/ October 10, 2010Terrifying! that kind of thing really doesn’t happen here in Foyil very often. Mostly because of the high threat of being shot. For instance if an intruder were to…say peep into my 11 year old daughters room if she didn’t shoot him (which she is a very good shot) he probably would not make it to the fence before I would shoot him, and if I didn’t get him my wife has knocked the eyes out of a duck at about 200 ft. with a rifle.
That kind of gun usage is fairly common in this area. We do get put into a lot of the same situations that some do in states with crazy firearm laws.
I hope that the situation is better for you now. That kind of worry would cause me to loose sleep.
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Bodhirose
/ October 10, 2010Well you’d have to be an idiot to go peeping or trying to cause other trouble when nearly the whole community is “packing”! I have no idea how many people here in Orlando have weapons but I admire people who can safely handle a gun or rifle, etc. The key here being “safely”. My poor brother should never have been put into that situation but I’m glad he stepped up and was able to resolve the threat.
I’m doing fine really except for the occasional “nightmare”.
Thanks for sharing today 2zpoint!
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jgavinallan
/ June 9, 2011Gayle:
We have to talk…we have to.
love and hugs to my dear friend
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jgavinallan
/ June 9, 2011Gayle:
I was so shaken, I forgot to put my name.
Jaye
xoxo
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Bodhirose
/ June 9, 2011See, it was scary wasn’t it?! Now wouldn’t that give you nightmares too?
I know…
Hugs,
Gayle
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apollorose
/ June 12, 2011These incidents would have also lasted with me for a long time. I don’t know if I would have been able to sleep.
Miracles take place everyday, and yes, animals are more than just pets sometimes.
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Bodhirose
/ June 13, 2011It was a very weird time for sure–we were on edge wondering when the next incident would show up. I’m just grateful it worked out OK with no real harm done to anyone–except residual fear.
Yes, our cat let me know something wasn’t right out there! Good kitty…
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